Despite receiving a building permit for its new Wynn Boston Harbor Resort last month, casino operator Wynn Resorts has announced that the opening date for the $2 billion development has been pushed back to late-2019.

According to a report from local television station WFXT, the 629-room hotel and casino complex on 33 acres of land formerly home to an industrial chemical plant was originally scheduled to open in 2018. But, after having its proposal selected by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission in September of 2014, Wynn Resorts has been forced to overcome a number of hurdles including a lawsuit filed by the neighboring city of Somerville concerning the 24-story development’s alleged environmental impacts.

However, Steve Wynn, Chief Executive Officer for Las Vegas-based Wynn Resorts has revealed that the delay is not due to this particular legal action, which is still working its way through the appeal courts, and that he has now made friends with several local lawmakers and business leaders with the exception of Somerville mayor Joseph Curtatone.

“I like to build things where people go and say “wow”,” 74-year-old Wynn told WFXT. “We’re already started. The appeal didn’t stop us from doing the stage of work that we would do now anyway.”

Wynn stated that primary construction on the Boston-area hotel and casino is now scheduled to begin later in the summer while disclosing that he is still willing to meet with Curtatone to discuss the project.

“He was an anti-gaming guy when the legislature was working on it,” said Wynn. “This is an emotional issue for him. How’s about we have lunch and maybe what you think gaming is and what we are, are not the same. Maybe you’ll even have fun coming there for dinner.”